You might have heard the news of a recent huge revival outbreak in Orissa, India, where Bro Paul had baptized 28 trinitarian ministers and wives in Jesus name. Bro Paul would have been able to baptize more, but he ran out of money and is now leading the Bible college during my absence due to deputation. In October, one of the young men he baptized held a youth camp which Hindu activists threatened to close down, and instead 30 Hindu activists came to Jesus Christ.

Paul would like to return and baptize more people in March.

In the area where he was baptizing people, persecution has broken out against Christians. Please pray for their:

a. safety,

b. courage to witness,c. being followed with signs and wonders so that the Hindus will be convinced Jesus is the God of gods, King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator and Savior.

From Lynden Shalm (RD, Asia):With news coming out of Pakistan about the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, we are asking that special prayer be made for the safety of Allan & Georgene Shalm and AIMers Curtiss and Amanda Scott as well as Bonnie Baker, who is a Pentecostal lady working in Islamabad.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Students in Ghana assisted in a local crusade. Fifty received the Holy Ghost and another Bible school church plant was established. One received the Spirit in the first service. Student, Brother David became the pastor of Kingdom Gate United Pentecostal Church.

Missionary Chris Richardson writes: Bible School students traveled to a city in western Madagascar for an evangelistic weekend. During this revival, there were sixty-five baptized in Jesus' name and fifty-seven filled with the Holy Ghost! A young man named John had been studying to become a doctor. Recently he had suffered a mental breakdown. But during the revival, he received his complete healing, was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost! Being well known in the community, this was a great testimony of God's healing power and saving grace!

A note from Missionary Gerry McLean: The Bible School graduation was a great success. Nine graduated from the two year program and most of them intend to apply for a ministerial license with the UPCI. At the National Board Meetings, seven new ministers were licensed; five of them were former graduates of the Bible School.

One of our 2001 graduates started a church under a tree some years ago. For two years they held services there even in the rainy season. It never rained when they had service during the entire two years! Although there was much opposition to the planting of this church by some local villagers, especially the witch doctor, Brother Rock persevered. He built a building and has over 200 members today.

This young pastor, Christopher Rock is now teaching at the Bible school and has already brought three students. Previously, in one mid-week prayer service he baptized thirty-four in Jesus' name and twenty received the Holy Ghost.

Back in July they found some spots on my liver. Last week they did a biopsy on them and found that they were cancerous. I am beginning to feel weak from these cancers. But I believe that God is still a healer, and I am trusting in Him.

From Phil Tolstad (Uganda): Please pray for Uganda as the nation has an e-bola epidemic.

The Ebola epidemic that has hit Uganda started in the western side next to Congo, but then spread to seven districts and into Kampala and now there is case on the eastern side with Kenya in Embale. As you know Ebola has a 80%-90% fatality rate and the medical facilities here can't cope with something like this, many of those who have died are doctors and nurses trying to treat patients. We need the protecting hand of God!

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The death toll from a new strain of the Ebola virus in Uganda has risen to 29, and the government was warning against shaking hands and other close contact, health officials said Monday. The death toll was expected to keep rising, said Dr. Sam Zaramba, director general of Uganda's health services.

Praise Reports

From Howard and Vonda Smith (Spain):

The last weekend in November... this weekend was a very special time for us with Pastor Joe Harrod, Springfield, IL ministering. We had 252 in attendance with 12 receiving the Holy Ghost with 6 water baptisms. Three of the 12 received the Holy Ghost in the water. Praise God!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Our hearts were deeply sadden by the news of the passing of our dear and much loved, Sister Cathy Killoren, veteran missionary to the country of El Salvador. She will be greatly missed by all that were touched by her dedicated life. Sister Cathy first went to El Salvador in 1989 under the AIM program and since then up until the time of her promotion to glory she faithfully labored for the Lord in the land of her calling. Even when she was physically sick, she continued to reach souls through the mobile clinic, a ministry that was her first love, where she organized medical evangelism and with the help of the Lord was able to even found several churches because of her undaunted efforts.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Malagasy National Conference Breaks RecordsThe UPC of Madagascar’s National Conference finished with record-breaking numbers in every way. Attendance soared to well over 16,000 people. Each division’s offering goal was reached with the largest being the National Ladies offering of over $21,000. We were blessed by theministry of Regional Director Jerry Richardson, Pastor Eugene Grace (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), and many national leaders.

At the end of the week, a total of 1,432 people had been filled with the Holy Ghost!

We praise the Lord for His goodness and blessing! We are also excited to report on our Bible school. During this conference, we had 31 graduates. For the last four months, these students have been in a work program where they each go out and pastor a church. Praise theLord for a total of 305 people being baptized in Jesus’ name and 195 being filled with the Holy Ghost as a result of their work.—Chris and Paula Richardson

Belize Spared the Wrath of Hurricane DeanAs Hurricane Dean approached Belize, we requested prayer. We are thankful to the Lord for His keeping power. Although this was a record-setting category 5 storm, Belize received minimal damage. There were no lives lost at all. The major part of the property loss was roofs andwindows being damaged or destroyed. There was little rainfall in most areas. In Belize City we hardly received any rain. The amazing thing is that just a few years ago a smaller and weaker storm hit in exactly the same area. At that time we received much more rain and damage! Weare thankful for the mercy of God that spared Belize from Hurricane Dean.—Jerry and Brenda Sawyer

Tenneys Bless Vanuatu’s General ConferenceWe have just completed our General Conference. T. F. and Thetus Tenney were great. They were such a blessing to our country. There were 15 people filled with the Spirit and seven were baptized. Following the conference, we had a two-day seminar for leaders. There were about50 in attendance. It was a mighty success.—Lee and Becky Sherry, Vanuatu/New Caledonia

Central America Breaks Barriers at ConferenceThe Breaking Barriers Conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras truly broke barriers! Over 900 ministers and their wives attended this conference. Kenneth Haney, UPCI’s general superintendent, and Bruce Howell, UPCI’s general director of Foreign Missions, greatly blessed the conference with their anointed ministries. For the first time ever, we had a preachers’ kids camp meeting, with 60 in attendance, going on simultaneously as the conference. What a blessing for Central America! —John and Aurelia Hopkins, Regional Director, Central America/Caribbean Region

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Cathy has been in and out of the hospital for the past month and was recovering well. However, her health has taken a turn for the worse and she is being hospitalized again today. Her kidneys have not functioned for the past 16 hours and the doctors have stated that this situation is almost a “red alert” for Cathy’s health.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

We praise the Lord for a wonderful and a powerful European Youth Convention in Melun, France which was greatly blessed of God. Over 1,100 came to celebrate and worship Jesus and at least 12 received the Holy Ghost. Our special guests were Brother and Sister Mark Johnston from Newark, Delaware who preached the Word of God with great anointing encouraging, inspiring and challenging the European youth to be soul winners and revivalists. Scott and Liane Grant, metro missionaries to Montreal, blessed the convention with their singing in French. The highlight of the convention was the passing of the mantle service as we cast vision and commissioned about a hundred young people for evangelism.

From Kathy Crossley (South America):

We want to thank you for your prayers for the National Ladies' Conference in Argentina. 170 were filled with the Holy Ghost. We asked prayer for a threatened transport strike...it was CANCELLED. We asked for good weather...it stormed the day before but God gave us dry weather during the conference. We asked for His anointing and it was PRESENT! Everyone who traveled within the country and visitors from neighboring countries had safe travel. We praise God for honoring our prayers and for the tremendous move of God that was felt throughout the sessions. Sisters Nancy Grandquist and Gywn Oakes God were mightily used by God to minister to the ladies.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Gary and Sharon received their appointment as UPCI missionaries in 1981. From the outset of their missionary ministry, the Abernathys have been heavily involved in Bible school and other aspects of training ministry. Gary believes the only way to reach Africa’s millions is through training national ministers. In 1998 he assumed the leadership of the church in Zambia. He works closely with the national leadership of the mature Zambian church. Sharon is involved in women’s ministry and child evangelism while they both teach in the Bible school.

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